Honor Thy Mother & Thy Father Ch. 15

68. Monday, Monday (It's Not a Great Day)

Stephano was awakened Monday morning, when the nurses were going through shift change. Patty was in the same position she was the evening before. There was no change. He told the nurse he was going to do a quick milk run and he would be back soon. He went downstairs and checked with the guard to find out where the closest 24-hour store was, where he could get clothes and shaving gear. In less than an hour, he was there and back, with a suitcase, three days' worth of clothing, and personal care items. He used a shower in an empty room to make himself presentable and returned to Patty's side.

Doctor Nall did her rounds at 9:30 A.M., and Stephano met her at Patty's bedside. It was instant dislike. Doctor Nall spent 30 seconds looking over Patty's chart and moved towards her next patient.

Stephano yelled, "That's it! That's all you're going to do for my fiancé. What kind of doctor are you? You don't even know if she's alive. You don't know if she's cold or hot. You didn't bother to touch her. Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"I am Doctor Nall. I am the chief neurologist in this hospital. Your fiancé has a temperature of 97.9°. It says so on the chart. Her blood pressure is 110/65. It says so on her chart. Her breathing rate is 64. It says so on the chart. Her oxygen absorption rate is 98%. It says so on the chart. I don't have to touch her because the nurses have done it for me. My job begins when your fiancé wakes up. The internists are taking care of her now. Do you have any further questions, sir?"

"Yes, why isn't she awake?"

"I don't know. Everything says she should be awake, but she's not Mister Valentino. All of her vital signs are within normal range. Her blood work says she is fine. Her urine output is fine. Her liver, kidney, and thyroid are functioning normally. Everything says to me, she should sit up, and say good morning, but she isn't, and I don't know why. She is not reacting to pain. She is not reacting to light, and I don't know why. If you think you're frustrated Mister Valentino, think how I feel right now, because I am supposed to know the answers to those questions, and I don't have them. I graduated in the top 5% of my class, and I feel like the village idiot. I am as frustrated as you are Mister Valentino, and I can't find out what is wrong with her."

Stephano backed down, and said "I'm sorry Doctor; I should not have lost my temper with you. I apologize."

"Who else are you supposed to lose your temper with Mister Valentino, one of my nurses? No, I don't think so. I would have another patient to deal with, because they fight back."

"That's good to know Doctor, thank you for that warning."

"I will be by later this afternoon to check on her again. I guess you will still be here."

"You can count on it Doctor."

The President walked into the Meeting Room and the security advisers of his administration remained standing until he sat down. They all took their seats, except Clark Atwater. The president looked at his friend and said, "Clark is there water on your seat?"

"Sir, I have something that is not on the agenda, but is of the utmost importance to you and to the nation as a whole. I would like to move it to the top of the agenda with your approval."

"Is this a National Security Issue, Clark?"

"It is Sir, of the highest order."

"Go ahead, Clark, I'm listening."

"Yesterday afternoon, at approximately 2:30, six men attempted to steal two highly classified computer programs, and kidnap or kill a US citizen inside the continental United States. It was a plan devised by the administrator of the National Security Agency and carried out by six members of that agency. The order was given by the director of the agency, Richard Stengel."

The director of the NSA stood up and yelled, "I did no such thing."

The President said, "Sit down, Richard. Please continue Clark; and you'd better have proof of this accusation."

"Mister President, I would not say it, if I could not prove it. Early yesterday morning, Homeland Security intercepted a coded transmission that they could not unscramble. As per procedure, they forwarded it to the FBI, where it was decoded and shown to the director. The transmission ordered six men to carry out the mission in Glens Falls, New York, at the home of Patricia Parent with all due haste. It repeated what I have just said to you in this room. Retrieve the top-secret programs, and kidnap or eliminate Patricia Parent. Sir, I believe, and we are in the process of verifying this; that you declared Ms. Parent, a national treasure at the beginning of your first term. It is my opinion, and the opinion of my staff that Richard Stengel is not only a traitor to this country, but is guilty of attempted murder, attempted kidnapping, and attempted robbery."

The president said, "Richard, now you can speak."

"This is all a bunch of conjecture, Mister President. A coded intercept from whom? Who got hurt? Who did the robbery? Who? Who? Who?"

The President said, "Clark?

"With your permission, Sir?

"Granted.

The Attorney General signaled to the guard, who opened the door he was standing by. Michael Free and six FBI agents walked in carrying six large poster boards.

Michael said, "Mister President, these were the men captured inside Ms. Patricia Parent's motorhome yesterday afternoon. They are all in FBI custody. One of these men has agreed to testify against Mister Stengel, without benefit of a plea deal. When we informed the other five men that Miss Parent was a "National Treasure" three others, under the advice of their counsel have asked for negotiated deals. We have not decided what to do with them yet. It all depends if Ms. Parent lives or dies."

The president said, "Clark, you didn't tell me she was injured."

"Mister President, while all of these things were happening around her, she suffered a stroke due to the strain of the situation. She underwent surgery yesterday, and is still in a coma. She is unresponsive, and the doctors don't have any idea when she will come out of it, if ever."

The President, in a severe and strained voice said, "Richard, stand up."

"Yes, Mister President."

"I can't ask you if you did these things, or not because the Attorney General is here. It would be an admission of guilt, which would be admissible in court. What I can do is this. Richard you are fired. I want you out of your office by mid-day. You are only allowed to take your personal effects with you. You will be escorted home, and your home will be searched for any items pertaining to your former employment. Dismissed."

Richard Stengel left the meeting room guarded by two Secret Service agents who would follow him for the rest of the day.

"Clark, how soon is that bastard going to be in jail?"

"The moment he steps out of the NSA administrative building, sir. The guards will turn him over to the FBI, who will bring him to the Federal Courthouse for arraignment."

"Did you have to do this to me on a Monday morning, Clark?"

"Sir, he did it to me on a Sunday afternoon. I had no choice. Besides, this was going to be a slow news week. Now you can show everyone in this country how 'Human Rights' begins at home."

"Keep me advised on the status of that young woman. If there is anything we can do; let me know. Now, if it's all right with you, can we begin the regular meeting? I will remind you of this day three years from now, when you are sitting up here."

" From your lips to God's ears, Mister President."

On the way to his office, Richard Stengel called his personal attorney, and told him what had happened. He asked him to arrange for $10 million in bail money, and to meet him at the Federal Courthouse, as soon as possible. He did not want to spend a moment in jail.

As Michael was leaving the White House, a thought struck him. "Holy shit, where are the programs?"

He opened his cell phone and called Stephano. "Hello, Stephano how is she?"

"She is the same Michael. She is unresponsive, and the neurologist does not know why. Everything is working properly, except her. I told William what she said to you yesterday is what she really wants. She wants to die Michael. She wants to be at peace, and there is nothing I can do to bring her back."

"Stephano, she does not want to die, she just needs a reason to live. That reason is you. Stay with her, hold her, talk to her, and love her. She hears you, she hears every word, don't give up on her. Do you hear me, son, don't give up. I will send you help, I promise. Help is on the way. A lot of people are going to be praying for you and for Patty. Do not allow her to leave you. Put her on a guilt trip, if you have to, but do not allow her to leave."

"I am doing all those things, Michael. I don't leave her side; I talked to her, until my voice is hoarse. I am going to continue to try. I will be here as long as she is here."

"Good man Stephano, now I have to ask you an important question. Do you know where Patty hid the programs? Are they in the motorhome?"

"I don't know Michael, she never told me, but they are of no use to anyone, without the queues. She knows the queues, and never told anyone what they were."

"It's okay Stephano. I will have the Glens Falls police impound the motorhome and seal it tight, until we can get back up there. If the programs are hidden inside we will find them, but we will not look for them until after Patty gives us permission."

"What happens, Michael, if she doesn't wake up?"

"We will take this one step at a time, Stephano; baby steps, if we have to."

"Thank you Michael, I will keep you advised of what's going on here."

Clark Atwater updated William on the status of the director of the NSA. Even though William was pleased Richard Stengel had been fired from his position, and would be arraigned that afternoon at the federal courthouse, he still had an uneasy feeling that Stengel had something up his sleeve. He made a call to a private investigator he knew, in Washington, D.C., and asked him to perform a special task. Also, he wanted him to set up surveillance on Richard Stengel, to make sure he did not attempt to flee the country. When he finished, he told Jemma he was going to have Paul fly him to Washington for a meeting. He would be back before 10 o'clock this evening.

Jemma looked him in the eye and said, "Remember what I told you yesterday. Whatever you do effects me, and your son. Know that we love you. We know what you are going through. Whatever happens, and wherever it happens we will always be there with you."

William and Jemma kissed passionately as he headed for the door to their apartment. As he started to close the door, Jemma yelled, "William!"

Exasperated, William stuck his head back in his hotel room and said, "What?"

Jemma smiled at him, "We need milk."

Williams' eyes looked up into the sky. He shook his head, looked back at his loving wife, and closed the door. He adored her, and she adored him. He wanted to write United Airlines a thank you note for having her as his stewardess on his flight to Phoenix.

He did not like using guns, because he was not good with them, but on the trip to Washington, William checked each one to make sure they were operating correctly. For him to be assured of accuracy, he had to get up close and personal with his intended target. If he were going to get that close to someone, he would rather use a garrote. It was silent, and there was no blood to ruin his clothes.

He liked Stephano's new plaything. He wondered why he never thought about buying a helicopter. From downtown New York, to Washington, DC, in one hour and 15 minutes. You could not get through security at LaGuardia in that amount of time.

The Private Investigator had a car ready to take William to a prearranged area, near the Federal Courthouse; Stengel would have to pass here to get to a car or taxi, due to the traffic flow restrictions. William would be waiting, impatiently, for him. To quote a very old movie, "He was going to make him an offer he couldn't refuse."

Inside the courthouse, and Assistant US attorney, Fred Hastings, stood before the judge and listed the crimes Richard Stengel was accused of, and asked that he be held without bond.

Stengel's attorney pointed out to the judge his client was an outstanding citizen and had served his country, both as a soldier and as a citizen for over 35 years. The charges against him had yet to be proven in a court of law. He offered to relinquish his client's passport, and to accept high bail in exchange for his client's release, on his own recognizance.

Fred Hastings reminded the judge that Mister Stengel was worth in excess $150 million, and because of his affiliation, with the NSA, one passport was not a guarantee he did not have access to dozens of others. He requested he be held without bond.

Judge Miniver said to both parties that she was conflicted by her decision, but because this was Mister Stengel's first offense, in good conscience she could recommend he be put in jail without bond. He was to surrender his passport, be fitted with an ankle monitor, report weekly, in person, to his parole officer, and bail was set in the amount of $5 million.

Fred was unhappy, but he knew he was fighting a losing battle, from the very beginning. No judge would put a war hero and a high public figure in jail, on a first offense, unless the charges were so egregious, they were splashed all over the print and electronic media.

Stengel and his attorney shook hands, went through the process of having his monitor attached to his leg, signed the appropriate forms, and paid the bond by a bank check. He walked out of the courthouse, a free man at 5:30 PM, and proceeded to walk across the park to get a taxi to his suburban home. He was no longer entitled to his government vehicle.

He was planning his escape to Belize, for himself and his family, when he recognized William Zabo standing 20 feet in front of him. He stopped, turned, and looked for an escape route. He saw men pinning him in on every side. He realized he could not escape, so he walked up to William, and asked, "What can I do for you, Mister Zabo?"

"You can give me my daughter back, you son of a bitch. You wanted to kill her, so you could take what she made possible, to use on another country. Now I want you to watch this, because I am going to take something precious away from you."

William opened his computer, and handed it to him. It showed a picture of the day's newspaper, and then a live television feed of his wife and three children, bound and gagged. They were standing in front of a large hole in the ground. A man stepped forward and threw each one of them into it, one at a time. He walked to a front loader, and started it.

Stengel's eyes grew wide as he looked at William. "Please don't do it. I will do anything you ask, but don't kill my family."

"You wanted to kill my family. I want you to live knowing that your family died, because of you. Watch, as they suffocate, and think of my daughter, as she lies in a coma. They say she may never recover from it. I hope you live forever, with this sight in your mind. I will send you a letter, in a week or so, telling you where their bodies are, so you can give them a decent burial. I want you to look at their faces. I want you to look at the horror in their eyes as they suffocated under all that dirt. I want you to look at the maggots as they eat your children's skin."

William turned to one of the men standing beside him. "Philip call him, and get this done."

"Zabo, please don't do this. They are innocent. Take your vengeance out on me, not on them."

"My daughter was an innocent; why did you have to kill her?"

"I was angry that she exposed me and my agency to ridicule. She threatened to shut down our computers, which would have put our country at risk. I could not let that happen, William. I went too far. I should never have done it. I can't take it back, but please don't kill my family, kill me."

"I am not a murderer. If I kill you, it makes me as low as you are. However, you do have to cross Pennsylvania Avenue. If you don't reach the other side, I will spare your family."

"Do I have your word, William? You will take my family out of that hole, and leave them alone, regardless of what happens to your daughter."

"You have my word, Richard. Your family had nothing to do with this affair. They will live, as long as you don't reach the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue."

Richard looked at the computer, and saw a ladder being placed in the hole.

"It is up to you now, Richard; in three minutes that hole closes."

Richard Stengel walked towards Pennsylvania Avenue. He stood by the curb waiting. He looked back at William, and the man standing next to him was holding a cell phone to his ear wait for William's instructions. Stengel spotted what he was looking for. As it closed to within 20 feet of him, he stepped into the street, and stopped. The bus driver hit his brakes instantly, but it was too late. The bus hit Richard Stengel, throwing him 25 feet forward, where he hit the pavement headfirst. He died instantly.

William looked at his friend Philip and said, "You did a great job doctoring that film. He saw those people just long enough to believe they were his family. A courier will bring you your cash tomorrow morning. You earned every penny of it."

Philip said, "I will pray for your daughter's recovery. It is always a pleasure working with you William."

The accident was front-page news the following day. Witnesses said they saw the man purposely walk in front of the bus, which coincided with what the bus driver said in his statement to the police.

Clark Atwater said to his protégé, "You must have scared the shit out of him in court, to have him walk in front of the bus. I am going to have to give you more jobs like this."

"It is my pleasure to serve you, O Mighty One!"

"Fred, I have to get you married. Your sense of humor is getting out of hand. My niece is going to have to start to slap you down a little harder."

"Sir, if she slaps me down any harder, I am going to wind up back in the hospital."

Sharon yelled, "I heard that Fred. You are officially cut off."

"Do you see what you've done to me now, sir; not only do you have me working again, but I'm back to being gay."

The Attorney General could not stop laughing.

69. Same Shit/Different Day.

"Alan, you are not going to get a guest. We are sending him to be with his family. You have probably read the paper and seen Richard Stengel spread all over the pavement on Pennsylvania Avenue. We think our friend is safe, but just in case, you are his emergency contact. Okay?"

"That is fine with me, Michael. I had two holes in the wall, ready for him, just in case he arrived sooner, rather than later. Should I have something ready for his family, just in case?"

"That's not a bad idea, Alan. The NSA is going to be scrambling for cover, for a while, and there's no telling what they are going to do until the president nominates a new head. There is no telling what Congress will do now. They could go ballistic or they could say it was a national security issue. The president will have to lead them on this."

"Okay Michael, I will have everything ready in a few days. Keep me informed."

Stephano was showing signs of wear. He would not leave Patty's side no matter what the doctor said about his own health. He slept in chairs in the intensive care area. He talked Patty ceaselessly. He told her how much he loved her, and begged her to come back to him.

In the afternoon, William, and Jemma returned to find Patricia lying where they had left her. Doctor Nall had no answers. Physically, Patty was fine. Every test came back normal, she was just not awake. The EEG showed good brain function. The MRI showed a very small area of damage to the right side of her brain in an area that should not cause any paralysis. They sent their findings to colleagues in New York City for their examination, an opinion, and they agreed. This patient should be awake and functioning close to, if not normal. They did not know why she was still in a coma.